Be careful what you imagine

Mrs. Miller looked up the stairs as she called, "Evan! Are you up
there?" There was a short pause before Evan replied.
"Yes mummy, I'm in my room."
Mrs. Miller climbed the stairs, in a very lady like manner, which was
how she did everything. On the landing she made her way to the small
room on her left. She pushed open the door.
Sitting in the middle of the room, playing with a small car, was her
six-year-old son, Evan Miller. He smiled at his mother as she entered
the room.
"Who were you talking to?" his mother asked as she glanced suspiciously
around his room.
"Toby," said Evan and returned his attention to his toy car.
"Who is Toby?" his mother asked.
"My friend," Evan said.
"Yes, but where is he?" Mrs. Miller was beginning to loose her
patience, something with which she was not very well acquainted with in
the first place.
"Beside me. Can't you see him?" Evan looked up at his mother in
confusion.
She stared at him for a moment. And then something clicked. Of course!
Evan had an imaginary friend. It was obvious. And nothing to worry
about.
"That's okay dear. Your dinner will be ready soon," she said and left,
closing the door behind her.

*

7:30 p.m. Friday 24th.

The Express to the White Rock development scheme sped almost silently
across town pausing briefly at a few stations along the way. At the
Grey Haven Square stop a young man, in his late twenties, stepped
casually into an almost empty carriage. He sat on a seat close to the
doors and read his paper, glancing occasionally out of a window.
Evan Miller had longish brown hair and dark eyes that did not fall into
any category of colour. He wore a casual business suit, the top button
undone and the shirttail hanging out. Over his right shoulder hung a
black leather satchel half full of work for him to do over the
weekend.
He glanced at his watch. It had stopped again. He made a mental note to
himself to get it fixed on Saturday.
The train slowed to a stop at the White Rock development scheme. Evan
adjusted the strap of his satchel and stepped of the train onto the
platform.
The sky had turned a pinkish red as the sun sunk lower and lower. A
group of teenagers were hanging around one of the dirty shelters on the
platform, chain smoking. Evan passed by them and walked swiftly out of
the station.
As always Evan walked home, passing through the large park and
following the canal to his small bungalow in the White Rock
development. There were only ten other bungalows dotted throughout the
development and his was by far the smallest. It had a small lawn with a
young cherry blossom tree in the centre. A well tarmaced drive led the
way to a small porch.
Evan walked calmly up the drive to the front door. He fished in his
pockets for the door key and, on finding it, slid it into the lock.
Inside his house was cosy. It was decorated with simple colours and few
ornaments. A picture of his parents sat on the small table by the
door.
Closing the door, Evan made his way to the back of the house, to his
own room. He changed out of his business suit and took a shower. When
he was done, he changed into a pair of worn jeans and an old
T-shirt.
Then he made his way to the kitchen. He rooted around in the cupboards
and fridge, collecting together the ingredients for the perfect
sandwich; half a chicken breast, three lettuce leaves, two dollops of
mayonnaise, a tomato and a half sliced, a cheese slice and all in a
lightly toasted bap.
After assembling the ingredients into a sandwich, he walked into the
living room. Half the room was in shadow; the light from the sun was
slowly fading. Evan flicked the lights but nothing happened. The bulb
had blown. He sighed and went to turn on a smaller lamp. But something
made him stop.
There was someone else in the room. He was sitting in the armchair by
the window, hidden in shadow.
"Who the hell are you?" Evan yelled in surprise. He set his sandwich on
the coffee table and watched the other person.
"Don't you remember?" The other said quietly.
Evan's eyes widened in horror. He recognised the voice. But it couldn't
be.
"Toby?"